Loose-leaf binder.



E. THOMPSON. LOOSE LEAF BINDER. APPLICATION 11.31) APR. 2, 1910'.

Patented Jan. 31, 1911.-

WAS

EdTATEd P EARL THOMPSON, OPE SYRACUSE, NEVT YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO ADJUSTABLE TABLET COMIANY, OE PETER-SBURG, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

asaoor.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 31, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EARL THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loose-Leaf Binders, of which the following is a speci fication.

My present invention pertains to improvements in loose-leaf binders, the construction being adapted more especially for use in connection with loose-leaf tablets and the like.

The invention is shown in the annexed drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the tablet; Fig. 2 a sectional view, taken through one of the posts, the section being taken on the line 22 of Fig. 3; Fig. 3 a similar view at right. angles to that of Fig. 2, and being taken on the line of said figure; Fig. 4: a view similar to Fig. 2, the locking key or bar being shown as turned upwardly, and in dotted lines as telescoped or housed within the hollow tube or barrel thereof; Fig. 5 a perspective view of one of the posts and locking bars or keys; Fi 6 a plan view of the blank from which the post is formed; Fig. 7 a perspective view of a modified form of post and key or bar; and Fig. 8 a perspective view of the blank from which the post shown in Fig. 7 is produced.

The main object of the invention is to produce a cheap yet simple and effective loose-leaf binder, which may be readily em ployed in connection with school tablets and the like.

A further object of the invention is to produce a post of a single piece of sheet metal bent to shape so as to form a light structure of relatively large diameter, so as to present sutlicient surface to prevent the post from tearing through the sheets. The formation is such that the loop with which the locking bar coacts is likewise produced, as are also the feet or base members of the post, which are employed to anchor or secure the post in place.

A still further object of the invention is to produce a hollow post, in which the locking bar or plate may be housed when it is desired to position or remove sheets from the post.

Referring first to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, it will be seen that the structure is shown in conjunction with a looseleaf writing tablet (Figs. 1 to 4) having a baseboard l and a cover 2 secured to the base by a flexible strip 3. It is to be understood, however, that the binding device may be used in a book or in any other desired manner. The base 1 is provided with a series of perforations or openings adjacent to one edge, in the present instance two, for the passage of the barrel or body I of the post therethrough.

The post in the preferred form is produced from a blank of the outline shown in plan in Fig. 6, comprising a central strip which forms a loop or cross-bar 4, connected to the body sections 5 and 5, which are each brought to a semicircular form and stand directly opposite each other, thereby forming the body or barrel of the post. Each section, 5 and 5 is provided with a series of feet, in the form of strips 6, which, when the post is finally formed, stand at right angles to the body and are secured be tween the under face of the board 1 and the flexible connecting strip 3. It will be readily appreciated that a separate strip or piece may be employed for securing the post in place.

The locking-bar or slide comprises a strip of metal having the form of a closed fiattened loop or link, one end of the loop, as 7, being curved so as to produce a space between the opposite side bars 8 which gradu ally converge toward the other end, one of the side bars being longer than the corresponding member, as at 9, thereby forming a pointed end. The loop or cross-bar t passes through the slide between the side members 8 thereof, and when the slide is brought to the horizontal, as shown in Fig. 2, overlies the leaves or sheets 10 and holds them firmly in place. There is enough friction between the parts to hold the slide or locking bar in position under normal conditions. It may however be readily moved endwise and turned up into the position shown in full lines, in Fig. l, in which position sheets may be readily removed or added. It will, however, be found preferable to move the slide endwise down into the barrel of the post, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, thereby bringing the upper pointed end of the bar into vertical alinement with the post so that v post shown in Fig. 7.

the sheets may be readily removed or r l placed. The loop or cross-bar t serves to 1 hold the locking bar or slide in such position, and the advantage of this will be readily appreciated when it is desired to handle a number of sheets in conjunction with a plurality of posts.

In Figs. 7 and 8 a slightly modified form of posts and locking bar or slide is shown. The blank shown in Fig. 8, from which the post is produced, comprises a loop or crossbar section 11, connecting the two half-body sections 12 and 12, each of which sections is provided with a single foot-piece 13. The material is bent to form to produce the The locking-bar or slide comprises a single strip of sheet metal bent to form a long hook or link composed of a straight side let and two underlying sections 15 and 16, each section being given a slight upward curve between its ends or one end and the curved end of the slide, forming a central depression 7. When the parts are positioned, the loop 11 finds its seat or bearing in said depression.

The term baseboard as used in the claims is to be given a broad scope and is, in the absence of some specific limitation, to be treated as the equivalent of a book-back or the like.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a loose-leaf binder, the combination of a base-board; a hollow post extending upwardly therefrom; a locking slide; and connections between said slide and post, permitting the slide to be maintained in a position at right angles to the post and to overlie the sheets passed down over the post, or to be turned upwardly and then telescoped into the hollow post.

2. In a loose-leaf binder, the combination of a base-board; a hollow post extending upwardly therefrom; a loop or cross-bar ex tending across the upper end of the post;

by the slide may be drawn endwlse and and a slide loosely engaging the loop, where- 1 while still engaging the loop turned at right angles and telescoped with the hollow post.

3. In a loose-leaf binder, the combination a base-board; a'hollow post extending upwardly therefrom; a cross-bar extending across the upper end of the post; and a slide composed of a strip of metal bent upon itself into substantially link form, the slide embracing the cross-bar and being held thereby, said slide being capable of being turned in alinement with the post and telescoped therein.

1 In a loose-leaf binder, the combination of a base-board; a hollow post secured to said board; a cross-bar extending across the upper end of the post; and a link-shaped slide engaging said cross-bar, one end of the slide being pointed.

In a loose-leaf binder, the combination of a base-board provided with an opening therein; a post formed of sheet metal, comprising a two-part body section, with feet extending outwardly from the base of the body sections and adapted to underlie the base-board, the upper portions of the body sections being connected by a relatively narrow cross-bar; and a slide engaging said cross-bar.

6. In a loose-leaf binder, the combination of a base-board provided with an opening therein; a post formed of sheet metal, comprising a two-part body section, with feet extending outwardly from the base of the body sections and adapted to underlie the base-board, the upper portions of the body sections being connected by a relatively narrow cross-bar; and a slide composed of a 'strip of sheet metal bent upon itself into the form of a flattened link and through which the cross-bar passes.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EARL THOMPSON.

IVitnesses PHILIP F. SCHNEIDER, EDWIN CoLLiNs. 

